Fact Sheet

What: “Kilroy’s Appalachian Trail Hike for Veterans” – a 2,190-mile trek through the Appalachian Trail to support BVL (Bowlers To Veterans Link) and their work for veterans.

Who: Bowling proprietor David “Kilroy” Kellerman, the 56-year-old owner of Mel’s Lone Star Lanes in Georgetown, Texas. Kellerman is also the current Vice President of the Texas Bowling Centers Association Board.

When: The journey starts on April 3, 2019, on Springer Mountain, Ga., and is expected to conclude on Mt. Katahdin, Maine in late August/early September.

Where: The north-bound thru-hike of the famed Appalachian Trail covers 2,190 miles through 14 states (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine). The full hike also goes through six National Parks, eight National Forests and two wildlife refuges.

Why: Kellerman is hiking the Appalachian Trail to raise funds for BVL (Bowlers To Veterans Link), a 501c3 organization that supports recreation therapy grants to VA hospitals and clinics for America’s veterans and active duty service members.

Founded in 1942, BVL is bowling’s oldest and own charity, and is consistently acknowledged for efficient and effective programming delivered with extremely low overhead. Kellerman is self-funding the trip to insure the maximum benefit of his fundraising efforts for veterans’ programs.

Benefitting: BVL (Bowlers To Veterans Link) – The mission of BVL is to brighten the lives of America’s veterans and active duty men and women through recreational and therapeutic programs and services. BVL is supported by fundraising events and donations from thousands of bowling associations, bowling centers, industry partners and bowlers throughout the U.S. Some of the funds raised through Kellerman’s hike will remain in the central Texas area to support local VA programs.